Footwear with a removable outsole

ABSTRACT

A footwear apparatus may include an upper portion that includes multiple layers. At least one of the layers may be an attachment layer that includes multiple holes. An outsole may include multiple fasteners that are positioned to align with the holes of the attachment layer. Furthermore, the insertion of the fasteners of the outsole into the holes of the attachment layer may attach the outsole to the upper portion of the footwear apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Footwear may include an outsole that is a portion of the footwear thatis in direct contact with the ground. The outsole may provide assistanceto the wearer of the footwear. For example, depending on the activity ofthe wearer of the footwear, particular types of outsoles may be moreadvantageous to the wearer. For, the outsole may provide more tractionto a hiker while the outsole may be smoother for a dancer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be understood more fully from the detaileddescription given below and from the accompanying drawings of variousimplementations of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example shoe with a removable outsole inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example attachment layer between a midsole and aremovable outsole of a shoe in accordance with some embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a hole or cavity in a shoe with a removable outsolewhere a fastener of the removable outsole may be inserted into the holeor cavity of the shoe in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates the hole or cavity of the shoe with a removableoutsole with an inserted fastener of the removable outsole in accordancewith some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a frontal view of fasteners of a removable outsoleand holes or cavities of a shoe in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating a number of dots or holes or cavities ina pattern of the removable outsole in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to footwear with a removableoutsole. Examples of footwear include, but are not limited to, shoes,boots, sandals, and so forth. Shoes, and other footwear, may beconstructed with various layers or parts. For example, a shoe mayinclude an outsole, a midsole, an insole, and an insert. The outsole ofa shoe may refer to the portion or layer of the shoe that is in directcontact with the ground. Furthermore, the insole of the shoe may referto the portion or layer of the shoe that is the interior bottom of theshoe that provides cushioning for the foot of the wearer of the shoe.The midsole may refer to the layer or portion of the shoe that isbetween the outsole and the insole and may provide shock absorption forthe wearer of the shoe. The insole, midsole, and insert may be referredto as the upper portion of the shoe. The outsole may thus be consideredto be attached to the upper portion of the shoe.

In shoe footwear, the outsole may be fixed to the midsole. For example,glue or stitching may fix the outsole to the midsole. The outsole maynot be intended to be removed. Accordingly, if a wearer of an article offootwear seeks to change the outsole of his or her shoe, the wearer maynot be capable of a procedure to remove the outsole and to fix a newoutsole to the midsole of the shoe without damaging the shoe. Instead,the wearer will be required to force the outsole apart from the midsoleby tearing the outsole from the midsole or by removing any stitchingthat connects the outsole to the midsole. Such actions may result indamage to the shoe.

In order to provide a procedure to remove the outsole without damagingthe shoe, layers or portions of the shoe may be configured to provide amechanism to remove an outsole from the other portions or layers of theshoe and to insert or replace another outsole into the other portions orlayers of the shoe. For example, the outsole may include fasteners andthe shoe may include a layer with cavities or pockets (i.e., holes) towhich the fasteners from the outsole may be inserted. The insertion ofthe fasteners into the cavities or pockets may secure the outsole to theupper portion of the shoe. Additionally, the fasteners may be positionedso that the wearer of the shoe may be able to remove the outsole bypushing against the fasteners when inserted into the cavities or pocketsof the shoe. Accordingly, the wearer of the shoe may be able to removean outsole from the upper portion of the shoe and may attach a newoutsole into the upper portions of the shoe without damaging the shoe.

Thus, the removable outsole may allow wearers of footwear to interchangeoutsoles. For example, wearers of shoes may be able to attach differentcolors of outsoles to the upper portions of their shoes. Additionally,the removable outsole may provide medical benefits to footwear. Forexample, various orthopedic outsoles (or orthopedic sole) may be fixedto an upper portion of a shoe depending on medical conditions of thewearer of the shoe. Furthermore, sports shoes (or other such footwear)may utilize a removable outsole (or a sports sole) to match a particularsports-related outsole to an activity that the wearer of the sports shoeintends to participate in. For example, if the wearer of the shoeintends to be in water to snorkel or scuba dive, then an outsole withfins may be attached to the shoe. Subsequently, if the wearer of theshoe intends to hike outdoors, then the outsole with fins may be removedand replaced with an outsole with a particular type of tread that ismore conducive to outdoor hiking.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example shoe 100 with a removable outsole. Ingeneral, the shoe 100 may include an upper portion 120 and a removableoutsole 110 that may be attached to the upper portion 120 andsubsequently removed from the upper portion 120.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shoe 100 may include an upper portion 120 thatincludes multiple layers or portions. For example, the upper portion 120may include an attachment layer 121, a midsole layer 122, an insolelayer 123, and an insert layer 124. The attachment layer 121 may includemultiple cavities or holes arranged so that fasteners 111 of theremovable outsole 110 may be placed through the cavities or holes of theattachment layer 121 in order to attach the removable outsole 110 to theupper portion 120 of the shoe. The attachment layer 121 may be made of amaterial that is more rigid than the midsole layer 122. For example, theattachment layer 121 may be made of, but is not limited to, low-densitypolyethylene (LDPE) material. Further details with regard to thecavities or holes of the attachment layer 121 are disclosed inconjunction with FIGS. 2-5.

The midsole layer 122 may be attached to the attachment layer 121 andthe insole layer 123. The midsole layer may be a layer may be made of amaterial to provide shock absorption to a wearer of the shoe 100. Insome embodiments, the midsole layer 122 may be permanently attached(e.g., either through glue, stitching, or another mechanism) to theattachment layer 121 and the insole layer 123. Furthermore, the insolelayer 123 may be a portion of the shoe 100 that sits directly beneath aninsert layer 124 and above the midsole layer 122. In some embodiments,the insole layer 123 may be considered the interior bottom of the shoe100 and the insert layer 124 may be a removable portion of the shoe 100that is placed on top of the insole layer 123 and is the layer where awearer of the shoe directly places his or her foot.

As previously described, the midsole layer 122 may be permanentlyattached to the attachment layer 121 and the insole layer 123. As such,each of the attachment layer 122, midsole layer 122, and the insolelayer 123 may be glued or attached together and may not be removed fromeach other. Furthermore, as previously described, the attachment layer121 includes multiple cavities or holes. In some embodiments, themidsole layer 122 and the insole layer 123 may also include multiplecavities or holes that are aligned with the cavities or holes of theattachment layer 121. As such, each of the attachment layer 121, themidsole layer 122, and the insole layer 123 may include holes orcavities.

The removable outsole 110 (also referred to as a removable sole) may bethe portion of the shoe 100 that is in direct contact with the groundwhen the shoe 100 is worn. The removable outsole 110 may be constructedof, but is not limited to, leather or a rubber-based material. In someembodiments, the removable outsole 110 may include a heel. Furthermore,the removable outsole 110 may include multiple fasteners 111 that may beinserted into the holes or cavities of the attachment layer 121, midsolelayer 122, and the insole layer 123 in order to attach the removablelayer 110 to the upper portion 120 of the shoe 100. After the fasteners111 have been inserted into the holes or cavities of the attachmentlayer 121, midsole layer 122, and the insole layer 123, the removableoutsole 110 may be removed by pushing against the tips or tops of thefasteners 111. For example, the insert layer 124 may be removed from thetop of the insole layer 123 and a wearer of the shoe may press down onthe tips or tops of the fasteners 111 as they are seen from the insolelayer 123. Further details with regards to the insertion of thefasteners 111 into the layers of the upper portion 120 of a shoe aredescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 3-5.

Accordingly, an attachment layer and the midsole and insole of the upperportion of a shoe or other type of footwear may be permanently attachedor coupled together while an insert of the shoe may be removable fromthe insole. A removable outsole may include multiple fasteners that maybe inserted into the attachment layer, midsole, and insole by aligningthe fasteners of the removable outsole into holes or cavities of theattachment layer, midsole, and insole.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example attachment layer 200 between a midsole anda removable outsole of a shoe. In general, the attachment layer 200 maycorrespond to the attachment layer 121 of the shoe 100 of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the attachment layer 200 may include multiple holesor cavities 210. For example, the holes or cavities 210 may be aroundthe perimeter or along the outside of the attachment layer 200. In someembodiments, the holes or cavities 210 may be equally spaced throughoutthe perimeter or along the outside border of the attachment layer 200.In the same or alternative embodiments, the attachment layer 200 mayfurther include one or more lines of holes or cavities 210 across theattachment layer 200. For example, the lines of holes or cavities 210may start at a left side and end at the right side of the attachmentlayer 200.

In some embodiments, the attachment layer 200 may include three lines ofholes or cavities 210. For example, the attachment layer 200 may includea first line 220 of cavities or holes 210 across the widest portion ofthe attachment layer (e.g., corresponding to where toes of a wearer of ashoe would be positioned), a second line 230 across the middle of theattachment layer 230, and a third line 240 towards a positioncorresponding to a heel of the shoe or where a heel would be positionedon a removable outsole. Furthermore, the attachment layer 200 mayinclude a fourth line 250 that is perpendicular to the first line 220,second line 230, and the third line 240. For example, the fourth line250 may include holes or cavities from the area corresponding to the toeof the shoe to the area corresponding to the heel of the shoe so thatholes or cavities of the fourth line 250 are across the length of theattachment layer 200 or shoe.

In some embodiments, the holes or cavities 210 may be vertical. Forexample, each of the attachment layer, midsole, and insole may includeidentical vertical holes or cavities. In alternative embodiments, aportion of the holes or cavities 210 may be angled and another portionof the holes or cavities 210 may not be angled (i.e., the other portionof the holes or cavities 210 are vertical). For example, holes orcavities 210 at the perimeter or along the outside of the attachmentlayer 200 may be angled while holes or cavities 210 that are not at theperimeter or along the outside of the attachment layer 200 are notangled. In some embodiments, the angle of the holes or cavities 210 thatare at the perimeter or along the outside of the attachment layer 200may be angled towards the area corresponding to the heel of the shoe.

FIG. 3 illustrates a hole or cavity in a shoe with a removable outsolewhere a fastener of the removable outsole may be inserted into the holeor cavity of the shoe. In general, the hole or cavity 370 may correspondto a hole or cavity in the attachment layer 121, midsole layer 122, andinsole layer 123 of the shoe 100 of FIG. 1 or the attachment layer 200of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hole or cavity 370 of the shoe may correspond toa hole or cavity in the attachment layer 330, midsole layer 340, and aninsole layer 350. For example, as shown, the hole or cavity 370 maycorrespond to a first opening in the attachment layer 330, a secondopening in the midsole layer 340, and a third opening in the insolelayer 350. As previously described, the hole or cavity 370 may be angled(e.g., at a 45 degree angle) towards the heel of a shoe or the hole orcavity may be substantially vertical. In some embodiments, the hole orcavity 370 may correspond to more or less layers than described. Forexample, the hole or cavity 370 may correspond to an opening in theattachment layer 330 and the midsole layer 340 or any other suchcombination of layers.

The removable outsole 320 may include at least one fastener 310. In someembodiments, the fastener 310 may correspond to the fastener 111 ofFIG. 1. A fastener may refer to any hardware device that mechanicallyjoins, affixes, couples, or attaches two or more objects (e.g., layers)together. For example, the fastener 310 may be used to mechanically jointhe removable sole 320 with the attachment layer 330, midsole layer 340,and/or the insole layer 350. The fastener 310 may include grooves thatalign to other grooves within the layers of the hole or cavity 370. Asshown in FIG. 3, the fastener 310 may include a vertical portion 371with a first fastening portion 372 and a second fastening portion 373.The first fastening portion 372 and the second fastening portion 373 mayeach be capable of being inserted into a hole or cavity of theattachment layer 330, midsole layer 340, and the insole layer 350. Thefirst and second fastening portions 372 and 373 may be in the shape of awedge. For example, each of the first and second fastening portions 372and 373 may be a wedge of an identical shape and size that is wider thanthe vertical portion 371. The vertical portion 371 may also be referredto as a column.

In operation, the fastener 310 may be inserted into the hole or cavity370 to attach or affix the removable sole 320 to the shoe. The removablesole 320 may be removed from the shoe by the pushing down of thefastener 310 from the hole or opening at the insole layer 350 thatexposes the top of the fastener 310 when it has been inserted into thehole or cavity 370. For example, a force may be applied to the top ofthe fastener 310 that corresponds to the first fastening portion 372after the insert 360 has been removed from the footwear. Either thefirst fastening portion 372 or both the first and the second fasteningportions 372 and 373 may be inserted through the holes or cavities ofthe layers through the opening at the insole layer 350. In someembodiments, the first fastening portion 372 may be inserted through theopening at the insole layer 350 with the second fastening portion 373not being inserted through the opening of the insole layer 350 (andinstead remaining within the other layers) when a weight of the wearerof the shoe is light. In another embodiment, both of the first andsecond fastening portions 372 and 373 may be inserted through theopening of the insole 360 when the weight of the wearer of the shoe isheavy.

FIG. 4 illustrates the hole or cavity of the shoe with a removableoutsole with an inserted fastener of the removable outsole. In general,the hole or cavity of FIG. 4 may correspond to the hole or cavity 370 ofFIG. 3 after a fastener 310 has been inserted into the hole or cavity toattach the removable outsole to the upper portion of a shoe.

As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion of a fastener 310 from a removableoutsole 320 may result in the fastener 310 being placed through holes orcavities of the attachment layer 330, midsole layer 340, and insolelayer 350. The insertion of the fastener 310 into the hole or cavity mayresult in the removable outsole 320 being attached to the attachmentlayer 330. For example, the top of the removable outsole 320 may beaffixed to the bottom of the attachment layer 330. Furthermore, thefastener 310 may be removed in response to a force being pushed againstthe top portion of the fastener 310 (e.g., a first fastening portionthat is exposed after the removing of the insert 360).

FIG. 5 illustrates a frontal view of fasteners of a removable outsoleand holes or cavities of a shoe. In general, the upper portion 520 maycorrespond to the attachment layers 121 or 330, midsole layers 122 or340, and insole layers 123 or 350 of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 and the removableoutsole 510 may correspond to the removable outsole 110 or 320 of FIGS.1, 3, and 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper portion 520 may include multiple holes orcavities. For example, the upper portion 520 may include holes orcavities 521 and 522 that are angled (e.g., angled towards the middle ofthe upper portion 520) and holes or cavities 523 that are substantiallyvertical. Furthermore, the removable outsole 510 may include multiplefasteners such as fasteners 511 and 512 that are angled so that thefasteners 511 and 512 may be inserted into the holes or cavities 521 and522. Furthermore, the fasteners 513 are substantially vertical so thatthe fasteners 513 may be inserted in the holes or cavities 523. As such,the fasteners of the removable outsole may include a first group offasteners that are oriented in a vertical position and a second group offasteners that are oriented in an angled position. In some embodiments,the second group of fasteners may be positioned along the outside edgesor borders of the removable outsole 510.

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating a number of dots or holes or cavities ina pattern of the removable outsole. For example, the front of shoe widthmay correspond to the line 220, one of the midway of shoe widths maycorrespond to the line 230, and the bottom of shoe width may correspondto the line 240 of FIG. 2. As shown, the table illustrates a number ofholes or cavities that may be included in various lines of the patternof the removable outsole based on varying shoe widths or sizes.

In the foregoing specification, implementations of the disclosure havebeen described with reference to specific example implementationsthereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be madethereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope ofimplementations of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A footwear apparatus comprising: an upper portioncomprising a plurality of layers, wherein at least one of the pluralityof layers is an attachment layer comprising a plurality of holes; and anoutsole comprising a plurality of fasteners that are positioned to alignwith the plurality of holes of the attachment layer, wherein theplurality of fasteners are further positioned so that an insertion ofthe fasteners of the outsole into the plurality of holes of theattachment layer attaches the outsole to the upper portion comprisingthe plurality of layers.
 2. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of layers of the upper portion further comprises a midsoleand an insole.
 3. The footwear apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of themidsole and the insole comprises a plurality of holes that correspond tothe plurality of holes of the attachment layer.
 4. The footwearapparatus of claim 3, wherein the attachment layer is coupled to abottom of the midsole and the insole is coupled to a top of the midsole.5. The footwear apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of holes ofthe midsole, insole, and attachment layer are vertical.
 6. The footwearapparatus of claim 3, wherein a first portion of the plurality of holesof the midsole, insole, and attachment layer are vertical, and wherein asecond portion of the plurality of holes of the midsole, insole, andattachment layer are angled.
 7. The footwear apparatus of claim 6,wherein the second portion of the plurality of holes are located at aperimeter of the midsole, insole, and the attachment layer, and whereinthe first portion of the plurality of holes are located in an interiorof the midsole, insole, and the attachment layer.
 8. The footwearapparatus of claim 6, wherein the angle of the second portion of theplurality of the holes is towards a heel of the footwear apparatus. 9.The footwear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment layer is a lowdensity polyethylene material (LDPE).
 10. The footwear apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners are exposed at an insole ofthe footwear apparatus when the fasteners of the outsole are insertedinto the plurality of holes of the attachment layer.
 11. The footwearapparatus of claim 10, wherein the outsole is removable from theattachment layer in response to a force applied against the plurality offasteners when the plurality of fasteners are inserted into theplurality of holes of the attachment layer.
 12. The footwear apparatusof claim 11, wherein the outsole is removable from the attachment layerin response to the force applied against a top of the plurality offasteners through an insole of the footwear apparatus.
 13. A shoecomprising: an insole comprising a first plurality of cavities; amidsole comprising a second plurality of cavities and coupled to abottom of the insole; an attachment layer comprising a third pluralityof cavities and coupled to a bottom of the midsole; and an outsolecomprising a plurality of fasteners, wherein the plurality of fastenersare to attach the outsole to the insole, the midsole, and the attachmentlayer in response to an insertion of the plurality of fasteners throughthe first, second, and third pluralities of cavities.
 14. The shoe ofclaim 13, further comprising: an insert placed over the insole, whereinthe insert does not comprise any cavities, and wherein the insert coversa plurality of tops of the plurality of fasteners through the insolewhen the outsole is attached to the insole, the midsole, and theattachment layer.
 15. The shoe of claim 14, wherein after the attachmentof the plurality of fasteners, the outsole is removable in response to aforce against the top of the plurality of fasteners.
 16. The shoe ofclaim 13, wherein the outsole further comprises an orthopedic sole. 17.The shoe of claim 13, wherein the outsole further comprises a sportssole.
 18. The shoe of claim 13, wherein the first, second, and thirdpluralities of cavities are angled towards a heel of the shoe.
 19. Theshoe of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners comprises acolumn and a first fastening portion and a second fastening portion,wherein the first fastening portion is attached to the column above thesecond fastening portion.
 20. An apparatus comprising: an outsoleassociated with footwear, wherein the outsole comprises a plurality offasteners that are positioned to align with a plurality of holesassociated with an upper portion of the footwear, wherein the pluralityof fasteners are further positioned so that an insertion of thefasteners of the outsole into the plurality of holes of the upperportion of the footwear attaches the outsole to the upper portion.